World Music CD Reviews North American

A classic album captures the artist at a musical peak, the sum greater than its parts, that not only sounded incredible upon its original release, but still sounds good today.Arguably one of the best of his three-decade career, 100% Fortified Zydeco found Buckwheat Zydeco swinging for the fences. Long out of print, this seminal recording on Black Top Records has been fortuitously re-released on Shout! Factory Records at a time when much of the country is focusing on the devastation and tragedy the 2005 hurricane season has had on New Orleans and the entire GulfCoast. Buckwheat effortlessly blends blues, R&B, funk and pop into his Zydeco, making music that is both three-dimensional and purely fun. Don’t let the cheesy cover fool you; 100% Fortified Zydeco finds Buckwheat and his Ils Sont Partis Band at the top of their game. From the first note to the last, this is a joyous party record that wants nothing more than to get you to smile and move your feet.Buckwheat captures the spirit of Zydeco and of New Orleans, a city that can’t be kept down.